Rolling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending edges of an elongated sheet material along and around the underlying outer edges of opposed parallel frame members, the apparatus including rigidly interconnected allochiral tool assemblies, each of which includes a carriage assembly, pairs of spaced upper and lower guide rolls, a plurality of form rolls and an edge roll.

Jarvis et al.

[ June 17, 1975 [54] ROLLING APPARATUS 709,754 9/1902 Ditchfield 72/181 1,976,148 10/1934 Sonnta 113/55 [75] Inventors: Lactance A. Jarvis, Buchanan 3,680346 8/1972 Wilcox? n 29/2435 Ronald Bemen Sprmgs, 3,773,005 11 /1973 Day ct a1. 113/55 both of Mich. 3,797,430 3/1974 Boudreau 113/55 [73] Assignee: Clark Equipment Company,

Buchanan, Mich. Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Filed J 26 1974 Attorney, Agent, or FirmErnst H. Ruf

[21] App]. No.: 483,263 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, ($1 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II igs i376; in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending 58] Fie'ld 29/243 edges of an elongated sheet material along and around [181 the underlying outer edges of opposed parallel frame members, the apparatus including rigidly intercon- R f ce Cited nected allochiral tool assemblies, each of which inl e s cludes a carriage assembly, pairs of spaced upper and UNITED STATES PATENTS lower guide rolls, a plurality of form rolls and an edge 127,896 6/1872 Koons 113/55 r011. 164,567 6/1875 Laing 72/207 651,053 6/ l900 Philips 72/207 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ROLLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains includes that of apparatus for bending or rolling sheet metal; more specifically, an apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing the transversely extending edges of a rectangular roofing sheet for a tractor trailer van along and around the underlining outer edges of two opposed parallel roof frame members.

2. Description of the Prior Art At the present time, one way of manufacturing trailer vans involves the hammering of the van roof skin or sheet over the top rail of parallel roof reinforcing section of members by means of a hand-held forming tool and a pneumatic hammer. While this practice does produce an acceptable approximately 180 bend of the roof skin around the roof frame member, this practice I is both inefficient and quite noisy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The rolling apparatus of this invention provides an efficient and noiseless method of rolling the roof sheet edge over the top rails of a trailer van by means of allochiral tool assemblies that are located on opposed longitudinal edges of the roofing sheet. The two units are rigidly interconnected and pulled along the longitudinal axis of the trailer van during which time the roof sheet edges are simultaneously mechanically crimped or formed over the top rail outer edges. The edges of the roof sheet are given an approximate 180 form or bend by means of a plurality of tandem form rolls carried between pairs of first and second upper and lower guide rolls. The guide rolls in turn are secured to a carriage assembly movable along the surface of the roof sheet material at the outer edge of each one of the frame members. An edge roll between the second upper and lower guide rolls serves to guide the tool assembly and coacts with the second guiderolls to smooth out and complete the bending initiated by the plurality of form rolls.

As will be further discussed in the description, the number and angle of inclination of the various form rolls will, of course, depend on the type, thickness and hardness of the material being formed.

Other features and advantages of this invention will become more readily understood by persons skilled in the art when following the detailed description in conjunction with the several drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective inside view of one of the allochiral tool assemblies of the rolling apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified left-hand end view of the rolling apparatus of this invention and shows the operation of the vertically aligned first upper and lower guide rolls.

FIG. 3, which is a sectional view, taken along'line 3-3 of FIG. 1, shows the operation of the first form roll.

FIG. 4, which is a sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, shows the operation of the second form roll.

FIG. 5, which is a sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, shows the operation of the third form roll.

FIG. 6, which is a right-hand end view of one of the tool assemblies of this invention, looking in the direction of arrows 66 of FIG. 1, shows the operation of the vertically aligned second upper and lower guide rolls as well as the horizontally disposed roller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, particularly FIG. 2, there is shown a rolling apparatus generally denominated by numeral 10 which includes transversely and rigidly interconnected allochiral or mirror image tool assemblies 12A and 12B respectively. Each tool assembly 12, as best seen in FIG. 1, includes a longitudinal support bracket 16 and transversely extending upper roller support members 18 and 20 rigidly attached to the ends thereof by means of bolts 22. A pair of depending leg portions 24 and 26 on each of members 18 and 20 serves to confine and pivotally support, via bolts 32, each of lower roll support members 28 and 30 respectively, therebetween. Spacer bolts 34, threaded through support members 18 and 20, and in contact with the upper surface of support members 28 and 30, can be adjusted to regulate the angularity, if I any, between the respective upper and lower roll support members.

As best seen in FIG. 1, upper roll support members 18 and 20 rotatably support longitudinally spaced and vertically disposed upper guide rolls 38 and 40 respectively. Similarly, lower roll support members 28 and 30 rotatably support longitudinally spaced and vertically disposed lower guide rolls 42 and 44 respectively, with guide rolls 38 and 42 as well as guide rolls 40 and 44 also being vertically aligned.

Longitudinally interposed and in tandem between the longitudinally spaced set of upper and lower guide rolls, are a plurality of form rolls 52, 54 and 56. Form rolls 52, which has its axis of rotation at an angle of above the horizontal, is rotatably supported on a mounting block 58 which in turn is fixedly secured to a munting bracket 60 depending from longitudinal support bracket 16. A spacer bolt 62, threaded through mounting bracket 60 and abutting mounting block 58 controls the transverse adjustment of form roll 52.

As best seen in FIG. 4, form roll 54, which has its axis of rotation perpendicular to the horizontal, is also rotatably supported on a mounting block 64. Block 64, in turn, is rigidly affixed to a mounting bracket 66 depending from longitudinal support bracket 16 and spacer bolt 68, threaded through bracket 66 and abutting block 64, permits the transverse adjustment of form roll 54.

As best seen in FIG. 5, form roll 56, having its rotational axis inclined 45 below the horizontal, is rotatably supported on a mounting block 72. In addition, mounting block 72 is rigidly attached to mounting bracket 74 depending from longitudinal support bracket 16, with form roll 56 being transversely adjustable by means of a spacer bolt 76, that is threaded through support bracket 54 and in abutment with mounting block 72.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, a horizontally disposed edge roller 80, having a vertical axis of rotation, is rotatably supported on a bolt member 82 rigidly attached to upper roll support member 20, with roller 80 being disposed intermediate upper and lower roll support members 20 and 30 respectively. In addition, roller 80 has its axis of rotation in the same transverse vertical plane that also contains the axes of rotation of upper and lower guide rolls 40 and 44 respectively.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of tool assemblies 12A and 12B has transversely extending top bars 84 and 86 that are rigidly interconnected with the allochiral bars on the other tool assembly via connecting bar 88. Elongated slots, such as 90, in bars 84 and 86, permit transverse width adjustment between tool assemblies 12A and 12B. One or more, preferably equally spaced, attachment lugs 92 allow the attachment of any desired driving or pulling mechanism (not shown).

In operation, rolling apparatus is utilized for simultaneously rolling and securing, the edges 104 of an elongate sheet material along and around the underlying outer edges or shoulders 108 of opposed parallel support members or a frame 106. The direction of movement of tool assemblies 12A and 12B is from right to left as indicated by arrow 110 in FIG. 1 or in the direction outward on a plane perpendicular to the plane of the paper of FIG. 2. As best seen in FIG. 2, guide roll 38 rotatably contacts a first surface portion 114 of elongate sheet 102, while lower guide roll 42 rotatably contacts lower horizontal surface 116 of frame edge 108. Thus, upper and lower guide rolls 38 and 42 coact to support and guide tool assemblies 12 with reference to sheet 102 and frame edges 108, as well as confining sheet face portion 114 and frame edge 108.

As best seen in FIG. 3, form roll 52 makes contact with both sheet portions 104 and 114 and starts to bend or form portion 104 partially around frame edge 108. It should be pointed out at this time that the rolling operation of sheet edges 104 around frame edges 108 involves the progressive and sequential bending of edges 104 through an angle of about 180. The amount or degree of bending performed by each of rollers 52, 54 and 56, depends, of course, upon a number of factors which include: the type of material being bent, the thickness of the material and the temper or hardness of the material. Therefore, the number of form rolls and the angle of inclination of the various form rolls may vary considerably. The particular arrangement of the tool assemblies previously described and shown in the drawings serves to bend elongate sheet 102 which is a type 3003 H-l6 aluminum alloy that is 0.050 inches thick, with the number 3003 denoting a particular aluminum alloy and I-I-l6 designating the particular temper or hardness thereof. When utilizing the previously described material, form roll 52 bends edges 104 downwardly from the horizontal to an angle of about 52.

As best shown in FIG. 4, form roll 54 progressively bends sheet edge 104 around frame edge 108 to an angle of about 130 from the horizontal.

FIG. 5 shows the continued bending of sheet edge 104 about frame edge 108, with the bend of sheet edge 104 now reaching about 165 from the horizontal. It should be understood that while form roll 56 may actually bend sheet edge 104 to an angle of about 180 from the horizontal the inherent spring-back characteristics of most materials, especially when bent against a fixed surface, such as lower surface 116 of frame edge 108, will limit the degree of bending.

In order to achieve an about 180 bend of sheet edge 104 around frame edge 108, sheet surface portion 114 and outer surface portion 118 of sheet edge 104 are squeezed or rolled between upper guide roll 40 and lower guide roll 44 respectively. At the same time that rolls 40,44 are squeezing surfaces 114 and 118, roller is squeezing or forming the arcuate portion that joins sheet portion 102 and 104 so as to achieve the desired approximate bend. Thus, the combined action of rolls 40, 44 and 80 completes the final bending of sheet edge 104 completely around frame edge 108. In addition, the opposed rollers 80 of tool assemblies 12A and 12B minimize any undesired skewing movement of the tool assemblies about an axis perpendicular to the upper surface of elongate sheet 102. In addition, rolls 40 and 44 also serve as the rear guide rolls of tool assemblies 12.

As previously noted, the number and the angle of inclination of the various forming rolls would, of course, depend on the type, thickness and hardness of the material being formed. However, from the foregoing it is believe that those familiar with the art will readily recognize and appreciate the novel concepts and features of the present invention. Obviously, while the invention has been described in relation to only one preferred embodiment, numerous variations, changes and substitutions of equivalents will present themselves to persons skilled in the art and may be made without necessarily departing from the scope and principles of this invention. As a result, the embodiment described herein is subject to various modifications, changes and the like, with the scope of this invention being determined solely by reference to the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending edges of an elongate sheet material along and around the underlying outer edges of opposed parallel frame members, said apparatus including first and second transversely and rigidly interconnected allochiral tool assemblies, wherein each of said assemblies comprises:

a. a carriage assembly movable along the surface of said sheet material at the outer edge of one of said frame members;

b. longitudinally spaced and vertically disposed first and second upper guide rolls, carried by said carriage assembly, for rotatably contacting a first surface of said sheet material;

0. a vertically disposed first lower guide roll' carried by said carriage assembly and vertically aligned with said first upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a lower surface of said frame member outer edge;

(I. a vertically disposed second lower guide roll, carried by said carriage assembly and vertically aligned with said second upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a second surface of said sheet material;

e. a plurality of form rolls carried by said carriage assembly, longitudinally in tandem, between said first and second upper and lower guide rolls, respectively, for progressively bending the transversely extending edge of said elongate sheet material along and substantially complete around the underlying outer edge of said one frame member; and

f. a horizontally disposed edge roller, carried by said carriage assembly between, but transversely spaced from, said vertically disposed second upper and lower guide rolls, said edge roller contacting the generally vertically outer edge of said sheet material after it is bent around said frame outer edge by said form rolls, said edge roller coacting with said second upper and lower guide rolls to complete an about 180 bend of said sheet material, said edge roller also minimizing any undesired skewing movement of said tool assembly about an axis perpendicular to the surface of said sheet material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of form rolls carried by said carriage assembly includes first, second, and third form rolls.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first form roll has its axis of rotation at an angle of 45 above the horizontal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second form roll has its axis of rotation perpendicular to the horizontal.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third form roll has its axis of rotation at an angle of 45 below the horizontal.

6. In an apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending edges of a rectangular roofing sheet for a tractor trailer van along and around the underlying outer edges of two opposed parallel and longitudinal roof frame members, a pair of allochiral rigidly interconnected tool assemblies wherein each assembly comprises:

a. carriage means movable along the surface of said roofing sheet at the outer edge of one of said roof frame members;

b. longitudinally spaced first and second upper guide rolls, having parallel axes of rotation in a common horizontal plane, carried by said carriage means for rotatably contacting a first surface portion of said roofing sheet;

c. a first lower guide roll, having a parallel axis of rotation in a common vertical plane with said first upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a lower surface of said roof frame member outer edge;

(1. a second lower guide roll, having a parallel axis of rotation in a common vertical plane with said second upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a second surface portion of said roofing sheet that is parallel with but spaced from said roofing sheet first surface portion;

e. a plurality of longitudinally spaced form rolls carried by said carriage means, between said first and second guide rolls, for progressively bending a transversely extending edge of said rectangular roofing sheet along and substantially completely around the outer edge of said one roof frame member; and

f. an edge roller, having a vertical axis of rotation in a common vertical plane in the said second upper and lower guide rolls, carried by said carriage assembly, said roller contacting a third surface portion of said roofing sheet intermediate said roofing sheet first and second surface portions, said edge roller coacting with said second upper and lower guide rolls to smooth-out and complete the bending initiated by said plurality of form rolls.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said roofing sheet second surface portion is substantially perpendicular to said roofing sheet first and third surface portions.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of form rolls includes first, second and third form rolls.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and third form rolls have their axis of rotation at an angle of 45 above and below the horizontal, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said form rolls are each independently transversely adjustable. 

1. An apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending edges of an elongate sheet material along and around the underlying outer edges of opposed parallel frame members, said apparatus including first and second transversely and rigidly interconnected allochiral tool assemblies, wherein each of said assemblies comprises: a. a carriage assembly movable along the surface of said sheet material at the outer edge of one of said frame members; b. longitudinally spaced and vertically disposed first and second upper guide rolls, carried by said carriage assembly, for rotatably contacting a first surface of said sheet material; c. a vertically disposed first lower guide roll carried by said carriage assembly and vertically aligned with said first upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a lower surface of said frame member outer edge; d. a vertically disposed second lower guide roll, carried by said carriage assembly and vertically aligned with said second upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a second surface of said sheet material; e. a plurality of form rolls carried by said carriage assembly, longitudinally in tandem, between said first and second upper and lower guide rolls, respectively, for progressively bending the transversely extending edge of said elongate sheet material along and substantially complete around the underlying outer edge of said one frame member; and f. a horizontally disposed edge roller, carried by said carriage assembly between, but transversely spaced from, said vertically disposed second upper and lower guide rolls, said edge roller contacting the generally vertically outer edge of said sheet material after it is bent around said frame outer edge by said form rolls, said edge roller coacting with said second upper and lower guide rolls to complete an about 180* bend of said sheet material, said edge roller also minimizing any undesired skewing movement of said tool assembly about an axis perpendicular to the surface of said sheet material.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of form rolls carried by said carriage assembly includes first, second, and third form rolls.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first form roll has its axis of rotation at an angle of 45* above the horizontal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second form roll has its axis of rotation perpendicular to the horizontal.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said third form roll has its axis of rotation at an angle of 45* below the horizontal.
 6. In an apparatus for simultaneously rolling and securing, in a longitudinal direction, the transversely extending edges of a rectangular roofing sheet for a tractor trailer van along and around the underlying outer edges of two opposed parallel and longitudinal roof frame members, a pair of allochiral rigidly interconnected tool assemblies wherein each assembly comprises: a. carriage means movable along the surface of said roofing sheet at the outer edge of one of said roof frame members; b. longitudinally spaced first and second upper guide rolls, having parallel axes of rotation in a common horizontal plane, carried by said carriage means for rotatably contacting a first surface portion of said roofing sheet; c. a first lower guide roll, having a parallel axis of rotation in a common vertical plane with said first upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a lower surface of said roof frame member outer edge; d. a second lower guide roll, having a parallel axis of rotation in a common vertical plane with said second upper guide roll, for rotatably contacting a second surface portion of said roofing sheet that is parallel with but spaced from said roofing sheet first surface portion; e. a plurality of longitudinally spaced form rolls carried by said carriage means, between said first and second guide rolls, for progressively bending a transversely extending edge of said rectangular roofing sheet along and substantially completely around the outer edge of said one roof frame member; and f. an edge roller, having a vertical axis of rotation in a common vertical plane in the said second upper and lower guide rolls, carried by said carriage assembly, said roller contacting a third surface portion of said roofing sheet intermediate said roofing sheet first and second surface portions, said edge roller coacting with said second upper and lower guide rolls to smooth-out and complete the bending initiated by said plurality of form rolls.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said roofing sheet second surface portion is substantially perpendicular to said roofing sheet first and third surface portions.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of form rolls includes first, second and third form rolls.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and third form rolls have their axis of rotation at an angle of 45* above and below the horizontal, respectively.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said form rolls are each independently transversely adjustable. 